Kelly Olynyk
Kelly Olynyk agrees to sign with Miami Heat
Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk agrees to sign with Miami Heat

Published Jul. 6, 2017 11:10 p.m. ET

MIAMI (AP) -- Kelly Olynyk has agreed to sign with the Miami Heat.

Agent Greg Lawrence confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on Thursday night. ESPN reported it would be a four-year deal worth in excess of $50 million.

The deal has not been signed, though could be as early as Friday.

A 7-foot center with 3-point range, Olynyk spent his first four NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics and played mostly as a reserve. He averaged 9.5 points in 278 regular-season games shot a career-best 51 percent last season.

Olynyk's deal means that for the Heat to complete the re-signings of James Johnson and Wayne Ellington -- who are both still wanted by Miami -- a deal will have to be swung to get rid of some salary and create more cap space. Josh McRoberts, who has played in only 81 games during his three injury-plagued seasons in Miami, would be the most likely candidate for a trade.

McRoberts is due to make just over $6 million next season.

Olynyk had a run-in with Heat center Hassan Whiteside in 2015. Whiteside elbowed Olynyk in the head and was suspended for a game, though tracked down Olynyk's number and offered an apology.

And now they'll be teammates.

"He's a good guy," Olynyk said after the apology.

The Heat value the corner 3-pointer, as many teams have in this NBA, and Olynyk could be a huge addition on that front. According to the NBA's stat-tracking page, Olynyk was 18 for 32 this past season on corner 3-pointers -- and was also a strong finisher at the rim, connecting on 73 percent of his tries in the restricted area.

Olynyk had a pair of 26-point games for the Celtics last season, including one in Game 7 of Boston's second-round playoff win over Washington.

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